Children’s Room

About us

Welcome to the Anna Gertrude Brewster Children’s Room! We are located on the basement level of Forbes Library with a separate side entrance.

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The Children’s Room Collection has over 28,000 items including:

Picture and Board Books

Fiction and non-fiction

Young Adult fiction and non-fiction

Reference Books

World Languages

Magazines for children, teens, and parents

Videos, DVDs, Playaway Views

Audio Books on Cassette, CD, and Playaway

Music CDs

Parenting Books, Videos, and DVDs

Potty Training Kits

Video and Computer Games

Reference

We offer reference assistance and readers’ advisory services to children and parents. We are happy to help you find whatever you are looking for or order items through interlibrary loan. So, please don’t be shy. Ask away!

Programs & Events

The Children’s Department sponsors programs and activities for children and teens, including summer reading, story time, baby play group, crafts, author talks, Minecraft Club, and several book groups. Find out what’s happening in the Children’s Room here!

Book Groups

We have many book groups for young readers at every level. Each month our Read With Me, New Readers, Independent Readers, and Teen Book Club meet to discuss whatever amazing book we are reading. Find out what we are reading next here!

Computers & Internet

We have computers available for patron’s to search the catalog, however, we limit other internet use to children and teens. Teens can sign up at the desk to use a laptop and younger children can hop on to play games on our desktops.

Toys & Games

The Children’s Department has a great selection of toys to play with any time you visit. Board games are available too. We have all the classics including Monopoly, Chess, Checkers, Chutes & Ladders, Life, Twister, and many more!

Drop-In Art Table

Available daily, kids and parents are welcome to wander over to our art table to color, craft, work on puzzles, and play card games. The art table is also our quick snack area!

Learn all about our friend Paco!

Paco…

…is a pacu (aka colossoma brachypomus.)

…is from the characidae family – cousin of the piranha.

…comes from the Amazon region in South America and also some places in Central America.

…swims in fresh water.

Paco can eat anything. Normally an herbivore, Paco will eat small fish or shrimp, and is wild about treats like strawberries and bananas.

Believe it or not, Paco is almost THIRTY years old!

Although related to the piranha, Paco is naturally peaceful and friendly.

Come on downstairs when you’re at the library!

Together We Sponsor a Farm Animal!

The Forbes Library Children’s and Young Adult Department is seeking support for an abandoned pygmy goat named Simon through the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York. Simon will be our official Library Goat.

Simon was a seven-pound baby pygmy goat who was found wandering the streets of Brooklyn, NY. Simon was underweight, cold, alone, and scared. He was suffering from severe pneumonia, lice infestation, sore mouth, and giardia when a caring woman found him and took him to an animal shelter in New York.

Someone at the shelter called Farm Sanctuary’s New York City office, and Simon was brought to our upstate New York Shelter. He loves his new home, and after receiving multiple antibiotic treatments and tons of love, he quickly recovered. Simon now spends his days frolicking and grazing with his two new goat pals, Zoop and Juniper, in their own special barn and pasture. The Farm Sanctuary needs help to buy food for Simon and to keep him healthy.